The Baggies successfully appealed against Robinson’s dismissal, after he was sent off by Rob Styles for a foul on Manchester United’s Ji-Sung Park. But Mowbray believes the leading officials offer little help towards smaller top-flight clubs.

“I am not a policy maker and there is no benefit in me crticising refs but I like referees who have a bit of respect for the players,” Mowbray said.

“The best referees can communicate with the players and I think we have a few in the league who can do that, and there is a few who are not so good at those particular skills. I think they are not sure how to handle the personalities and it is almost like a falseness comes over them.

“Sometimes they are in awe of them and other times they are too in your face and aggressive towards them.

“There are too many for whom the game seems too big for them. It is almost as if some referees want to be the friend of the stars.

“It is ‘Frank’ this and ‘Frank’ that, and yet he (the referee) doesn’t know the names of any of our players.

“You can feel it and it is not a nice feeling. It is as if they are in awe of their stars.

“Maybe it is the fact Man United are going to be in this league for the next 20 years and if they want to referee in this league for the next 20 years then had better be alright with these boys.”